Distribution and function of very-long-chain lipids in the formation digestive duct barrier.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07060
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47030:Pharmaceutical hygiene and biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: SASSA TAKAYUKI 北海道大学, 薬学研究院, 准教授 (20342793)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: セラミド / バリア機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Very-long-chain lipids, which contain >C20 hydrocarbon chain(s), are important for the formation of permeability barrier on the body surface. This study was aimed at elucidating the role of very-long-chain lipids in barrier formation in the digestive tract, which have larger surface area than the body surface. Analysis of lipids in mouse digestive tract by mass spectrometry demonstrated that particular types of very-long-chain ceramides, which are involved in skin barrier, were present in the oral cavity, esophagus, and forestomach. Furthermore, we demonstrated that oral barrier was impaired in mice with reduced very-long-chain ceramides in the oral mucosa.

Free Research Field

脂質生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

消化管は食事、喫煙、薬物などに由来する質・量共に多様な化学物質および体表とは異なる病原体や常在細菌に晒されている。本研究では表皮にのみ存在すると考えられていたタイプの極長鎖セラミドが表皮と同じ重層扁平上皮組織である口腔、食道、前胃に存在し、口腔バリア形成に重要であることを明らかにした。極長鎖セラミドは口腔バリア疾患と関連する可能性があり、診断や治療におけるターゲットとなりうることが示唆された。